Fastener strip



June 22, 1954 L. M. RABINOWITZ 2,681,452

FASTENER STRIP Filed Jan. 5, 1952 2 INV%TOB.

A z AND/2E5) Patented June 22, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FASTENER STRIP Louis M. Rabinowitz, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application January 3, 1952, Serial No. 264,790

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to eyelet carrying fabric strips having spaced groups of eyelet stitched thereto and, more particularly, to such a strip having a novel stitching sequence including a distinctive stitch, of a different character from the stitches on either side thereof, to act as a cut mark for severing of the strip into shorter strips each carrying a single group of eyelets.

These elongated strips containing fastener elements are widely used in the clothing art, particularly in the manufacture of lingerie items such as brassieres. As presently manufactured, the eyelets are arranged in groups of two, or sometimes three, along the strip. A space equal to twice the distance between the eyelets of a pair is left between each pair. An operator can then sever the strip midway between-each pair to provide shorter strips, each of which is secured to the free end of a brassire for cooperation with hooks on a. similar strip secured to the other free end.

In the usual method of assembling the eyelets to the strip, the latter is fed longitudinally relative to a sewing head which sews a uniform line of stitches along the strip. At predetermined spaced and uniform intervals, an eyelet is stitched to the strip, the motion of the strip being halted, stepped, and again halted during attachment of the two legs of the eyelet to the strip. To provide the larger spacing between the sets or pairs of eyelets, no eyelet is attached to the strip at every third location (when the eyelets are arranged in pairs). By severing the strip at these blank locations, shorter strips, each containing a uniformly spaced set of eyelets, are provided.

However, this arrangement has certain disadvantages. In the first place, the location of the cut is not definitely marked, so that the cutter must visually estimate the midpoint between eyelet sets. This frequently results in the short, cut strips being unequal in length, or with the eyelet set not centered therealong. Consequently, there is a possible mismating of the eyelets with their cooperating hooks when the strips are assembled to a garment.

More importantlyjthe amount of material remaining on each strip on each side of the eyelet set is far more than is needed either for structural support of the attached eyelets or for adequate attachment of the strip to a garment.

The present invention overcomes these disadvantages in a novel manner by providing a predetermined sequence involving stitches of differing lengths and relative orientations. Intermediate the sets of eyelets, the seam is composed of a series of stitches characterized by a group of stitches at the cutting point including a pair of stitches of one character separated by a single stitch of a different character, thus providing a well-defined marker for the subsequent cut. The series of stitches between eyelet sets is preferably greater in length than the series of stitches securing the eyelets of each set to the strip, but substantially less than twice the spacing of the individual eyelets of each set.

The invention arrangement thus provides the distinct advantages of first, providing a definite marker for the subsequent cutting and which is distinct and outstanding from the immediately adjacent stitches, and, second, greatly reducing the length of fabric needed for a given number of eyelet sets. All this is effected solely by the stitching operation of varying the character of the stitches at preset intervals along the strip.

For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following detailed description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a partial plan view of an eyelet carrying strip embodying the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

In accordance with the present invention, one longitudinal edge of a fabric strip I0, is reversed on itself, as at l I, to form a creased edge I2, and edge [2 is lapped over the folded over other edge [3 of the strip. The lapped edges !2 and it are then stitched to each other and to the back portion M of strip 10 by a line of stitches or longitudinal seam l5.

During stitching of seam l5, eyelets 20, 20 are inserted between the lapped edges at spaced intervals and secured to the strip by the same stitching operation forming seam I5. The eyelets, in the specific example illustrated, are arranged in space pairs each including an eyelet 20 and an eyelet 20'. However, each eyelet group may include more than two eyelets if desired.

The specific formation of, and the sequence and character of the stitches composing the seam I5 is an important novel feature of the invention, more particularly, the character of stitching in that portion of the seam between adjacent groups of eyelets. To clearly point out these characteristics, the seam formation will be described in detail for a stitching cycle beginning at the leading leg of the first eyelet of one.

pair and ending at the leading leg of the first eyelet of the second pair.

Immediately in advance of the leading leg 2! of the first eyelet, a somewhat elongated laterally extending tack stitch 3| is formed. Preferably this is a double stitch to form a firm abutment for the legv 2!. Next, the leading leg 2! and trailing leg 22 are further anchored in place by a line of stitches including a long stitch 32 over the leading leg, a following stitch 33 intermediate the legs, and a long stitch 34 over the trailing leg 22 of eyelet 20. Intermediate stitch 33 is preferably much shorter than stitches 32 and 34. A laterally extending, preferably double, tack stitch 36 is then formed just beyond trailing leg 22 to anchor eyelet 20 on the opposite side.

In between eyelets 29 and 2G, seam I comprises a plurality of relatively short aligned stitches 31, followed by a lateral tack stitch 3| just in advance of leading leg 2i of eyelet 20. The stitching between the two legs of eyelet 20' is the same as that between the legs of eyelet 20, and includes two relatively long stitches 32 and 35, each over an eyelet leg, and separated by an intermediate substantially shorter stitch 33'. Following stitch 3A is the secondlateral taclr'stitch 35 just beyond trailing leg 22, The seam it between adjacent groups of eyelets includes a novel sequence of stitches of different character whereby a readily distinguished and distinctive cut marking stitch is provided. Following lateral tack stitch 36' is a series of aligned long stitches 38, preferably three in number. Next is a lateral stitch 40 of considerable length, which is the cut marker stitch. Following stitch M] is a series of long stitches ii, also preferably three in number, which completes one cycle of stitches. 7

Thus, the invention strip includes a novel seam arrangement between eyelet groups including two I substantially equal length series of aligned long stitches separated by an elongated lateral cut marking stitch. Thereby, the cut line is easily located and readily identified. The seam length between eyelet groups is preferably substantially equal to or slightly greater than its length between the two eyelets of each group. 7

The stitching of each eyelet to the strip includes a lateral tack stitch on either side of the eyelet, a long stitch over each eyelet leg, and a short stitch in between the two long stitches.

The seam between the eyelets of each group is characterized by a series of short aligned stitches. The described strip may be made manually by the method described in copending application Serial No. 264,788, filed January 3, 1952, for Method and Apparatus for-Assembling Fastener'Element's, now Patent No. 2,675,770, dated April 20, 1954, or may be made automatically by the apparatus shown and described in such 00- pending application.

While a specific embodiment of the invention 7 What is claimed is: r

1. A continuous fastener strip comprising a fabric strip having overlapping longitudinally extending portions, fasteners inserted between said portions at spaced intervals longitudinally of the 7 strips and arranged in groups each comprisin at least a pair of fasteners, and a longitudinal stitched seam uniting said strip portions and securing said fastener in position, said seam comprising a series of relatively short stitches between the fasteners of each group and, between fastener groups, comprising a series of stitches including a laterally disposed cu marking stitch substantially at the midpoint between adjacent fastener groups, and a relatively long stitch on each side of said marking stitch aligned with the seam, to provide a well-defined indication of the cut point for later severin of the strip into shorter sections each including one group of fasteners.

2. A continuous fastener strip comprising a fabric strip having overlapping longitudinally extending portions, fasteners inserted between said portons at spaced intervals longitudinally of the strips and arranged in groups each comprising at least a pair of fasteners, and a longitudinal stitched seam uniting said strip portions and securing said fasteners in position, said seam comprising a laterally disposed stitch adjacent each side of each fastener and a series of relatively short stitches between the fasteners of each group, said seam, between fastener groups, comprising two aligned series of relatively long stitches in. alignment with the seam and separated, at the midpoint between fastener groups,

by a laterally disposed stitch to provide a wellside of each fastener and a series of relatively short stitches between the fasteners of each group, said seam, between fastener groups, comprising two aligned series of relatively long stitches in alignment with the seam and separated, at the midpoint between fastener groups, by a relatively long laterally disposed stitch to provide a, well-defined indication of the cut" point for later severing of the strip into'shorter sections each including one group of fasteners.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,421,062 Brenner June 27, 1922 1,668,519 Smith May 1, 1928 1,939,465 Roseman Dec, 12, 19.33 2,340,245 Kispert Jan. 25,1945! 

